Micho to continue as Uganda Cranes coach

Uganda Cranes coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic appears set to continue in his role despite growing calls for his removal from fans and critics alike, Pulse Sports has learnt.

Micho returned for his second stint in charge of the Uganda Cranes and signed a three-year contract in July 2021, succeeding Abdallah Mubiru, who served as an interim coach after Johnathan McKinstry's departure.

The Serbian tactician's contract is still active, with nine months remaining, and it's expected that Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will allow him to fulfill his contract, which is set to conclude in July 2024.

Calls for Micho's dismissal grew louder after Uganda's failed qualification campaign for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Despite the Cranes securing a 2-0 victory over Niger, it wasn't enough to secure a slot in the tournament finals scheduled for January-February 2024 in Ivory Coast.

There was an even more rigorous call for his dismissal in June this year following Uganda’s 1-0 defeat to Tanzania which put the Cranes’ qualification campaign in jeopardy.

But the former SC Villa, Zamalek and Orlando Pirates coach rescued the situation by overseeing a 1-0 victory over the Taifa Stars four days later in Dar-es-Salaam.

Micho's reported monthly earnings of around USD 25,000 [approximately UGX 93.4 million] add a financial dimension to the situation.

If FUFA decides to terminate his contract prematurely, they would be liable to pay the full amount of his wages for the remainder of the contract which could go up to USD 225,000 [approximately UGX 832 million].

There is also a significant severance fee due to Micho if his contract is cut short.

Furthermore, Micho's contract includes a clause that allows for an extension beyond the initial three years, but such an extension would need to be activated by the federation.

Performance-related clauses also provide FUFA with a safety net in case of contract termination, potentially reducing the total payout.

FUFA President Moses Magogo previously indicated that the federation would evaluate Micho's performance once Uganda's fate in the AFCON qualification was determined.

However, it appears that FUFA is inclined to stick with Micho, especially given the upcoming qualification tournaments, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The CHAN qualifiers are scheduled to commence on October 6-8, 2023. Uganda will begin its 2026 World Cup qualification campaign in November with away fixtures against Guinea and Somalia.